Rare and Wonderful

Perhaps you've seen them only in books and magazines. Or you've glimpsed a flash of gold through a wooded trail that became a Norwegian Fjord. Or you've encountered the fairy-tale horse with ringlets, whose patient owner explained that was indeed a Bashkir Curly.

This issue, we look at five rare and unusual equine breeds that excel on the trail: the Bashkir Curly, the Kiger Mustang, the Mangalarga Marchador, the Montana Travler, and the Norwegian Fjord Horse. Read on to learn more about these breeds and discover why you'll enjoy taking them down any trail.

Bashkir Curly
Number registered: 4,900 worldwide. (U.S. numbers unavailable.)

History highlights: According to the American Bashkir Curly Registry, curly-coated horses were immortalized in Chinese art as early as 161 A.D. But it remains a mystery how the breed arrived in the Americas. Some theorize the horses crossed a former land bridge over the Bering Strait; others say they arrived in the Northwest with Russian settlers in the 1700s. Still others believe they arrived along with the horses of Spanish explorers, then established wild herds in the American Southwest. Pictographs from the early 1800s show Sioux and Crow Indian tribes riding horses with curly coats.

There's less mystery, however, regarding when the modern-day history of the American Bashkir Curly began: In 1898, a young man named Peter Damele and his father were riding in the Peter Hanson Mountains of central Nevada's high country when they came upon three horses with coats of tightly curled ringlets. The family used these horses to begin a breeding program. Many of today's Bashkir Curly horses trace back to the Damele herd.

In 1971, the American Bashkir Curly Registry was founded to register qualified horses, save the breed from extinction, and promote the breed.

Breed description: The Bashkir Curly has a short body coat that feels like crushed velvet. Over the body coat, he grows a thick, curly winter coat that often has ringlets several inches long. Individual hairs are round instead of flat, like other horsehair; tests reveal that Bashkir Curly hair is more closely related to mohair than common horsehair. The breed has wide-set eyes with curled eyelashes. The horse's back is short, and he has a deep heartgirth, heavily boned legs, and short cannon bone. The Curly averages 15 hands high, and 800 to 1,000 pounds.

Marks of distinction: With tongue-in-cheek, Greg and Sonja Oakes of Oakesmuir Curly Horses in Ontario, Canada, tell us that their horses are nothing to sneeze at. "People with allergies to other breeds often discover that the Bashkir Curly is totally different," Sonja says. In fact, the breed's thick, wavy coats don't trigger the allergic reactions other breeds may cause.

"The horses' coats also provide them with a unique heating and cooling system," adds Greg. "Their thick, curly winter coat repels rain and snow. Underneath, air is trapped near their short haircoat next to their bodies, keeping them warm. In spring, they shed their outer coat, so they're cool in summer. It's an exceptional feature, really."

Owners also extol the breed's calm, gentle temperament; dense bone; tough, round hooves; intelligence; and remarkable memory.

On the trail: Marni Malet of Bear Paw Ranch Curly Horses in Troy, Montana, owned Thoroughbreds until she bought a Bashkir Curly for her grandchildren. "They're like potato chips: You can't have just one!" she says.

Malet, who lives in the Purcell Mountains, has bred trail-ready Bashkir Curly horses since 1997. Three of her broodmares trace to the Damele herd. "The Curlys are awesome trail horses," she says. "They're strong and have tremendous endurance. Here in the mountains, you never know when you might come upon elk, deer, moose, cougar, or bear, so I also appreciate the calm nature and common sense these horses have. They're versatile, too. I sold one horse to an owner who rides in Pasadena's Rose Parade every year."

Jim Washington of Southern California can confirm that, as he and his family also traditionally ride their Curlys in the Rose Parade. Washington, his wife, their two children, and his mother-in-law are all devoted to the breed. "It's the glue that binds us," he says. "The Curly's sweet, calm disposition and solid bone structure make him exceptional for the trail-riding family. And they're great competitors - we've won many [California State Horsemen's Association-sanctioned] Trail Trials with our Curly Horses."